Elsie's New Relations eBook

“Suppose you all delay a little and unite with
us in evening family worship,” said Mr. Dinsmore.
“It is a good while since I have had all three
of my children present with me at such a service.”

All complied with his request, and immediately afterward
took leave. Then with an exchange of affectionate
good-nights the family separated and scattered to
their rooms.

Lulu was not quite ready for bed when Violet came
in, and putting her arm around her, asked, with a
gentle kiss, “Do you feel strange and lonely
in this new place, little girl?”

“Oh, no, Mamma Vi! it seems such a nice home
that I am very glad to be in it.”

“That is right,” Violet said, repeating
her caress. “I hope you will sleep well
and wake refreshed. I shall leave the door open
between your room and mine, so that you need not feel
timid, and can run right in to me whenever you wish.
Good-night, dear.”

“Good-night, Mamma Vi. Thank you for being
so good to me, and to Gracie and Max,” Lulu
said, clinging to her in an affectionate way.

“My child,” returned Violet, “how
could I be anything else to the children of my dear
husband? Ah, I must go! Mamma calls me,”
she added, hurrying away as a soft, sweet voice was
heard coming from the adjoining room.

Lulu finished undressing, said her prayers, and had
just laid her head on her pillow, when some one glided
noiselessly to the bedside and a soft hand passed
caressingly over her hair.

The child opened her eyes, which had already closed
in sleep, and saw by the moonlight a sweet and beautiful
face bending lovingly over her.

“Grandma Elsie,” she murmured sleepily.

“Yes, dear. Rosie and Walter never like
to go to sleep without a good-night kiss from mamma,
and you must have the same now, as you are to be one
of my dear children.”

Lulu, now wide awake, started up to put both arms
round the neck of her visitor. “Oh, I do
love you!” she said, “and I’ll try
hard to be a good child to you.”

“I believe it, dear,” Elsie said, pressing
the child to her heart. “Will you join
my children in their half-hour with mamma in her dressing-room
before breakfast? I shall be glad to have you,
but you must do just as you please about it.”

“Thank you, ma’am; I’ll come,”
said Lulu.

“That is right. Now lie down and go to
sleep. You need a long night’s rest.”

CHAPTER VII.

“Her fancy followed
him through foaming wares
To distant shores.”
—­Cowper.

Violet in her night-dress and with her beautiful hair
unbound and hanging about her like a golden cloud,
stood before her dressing-table, gazing through a
mist of unshed tears upon a miniature which she held
in her hand.

“Ah, where are you now, love?” she sighed
half aloud.

Her mother’s voice answered close at her side,
in gentle, tender accents, “In God’s keeping,
my darling. He is the God of the sea as well as
of the land.”